Improvement in bosom-forms



J. D. BANFTELD. Bosom-Form.

No. 202,398. Patented April 16, 1878 WI 55555. TFIT/Ef'hfll.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JULIA 1). BANFIELD, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOSOM-FORMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,398, dated April 16, 1878; application filed March 18,1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIA D. BANFIELD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bosom-Forms, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to bosom-forms; and has for its object the production of a form which shall be light, flexible, adjustable, and open for purposes of ventilation.

The invention consists in the peculiar shape of the bosom-form, as hereinafter described, whereby it inclines upward and outward from its contracted lower end to a point at or near or just above the central portion of the natural bust, where the form recedes or curves back ward more abruptly toward the person, and after touching the person it is made to broaden out, so as to place the inside face of the material composing the form in such position with relation to the person as to bear easily upon the body, the bosom-form, owing to its shape at the top, or its broadened upper portion, easily conforming itself to the person, whethermore or less curved, without uncomfortable pressure.

The material employed .for the manufacture of this form is that known as Tampico cloth but it is obvious that other flexible fabric of a like nature may be employed, such as hair-cloth. Two thicknesses of material will preferably be used, to afford greater body to the form, and it will be assisted by any usual or suitable stiffenings, such as bones, cane, &c., to retain its proper and desired contour and resist'beingcrushed by pressure from the outside.

Figure 1 represents, in front view, a bosomform constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a top view thereof; and Fig. 3, a vertical section.

As shown in the drawings, each independent half a, b of the form is composed of three pieces, a d e. The central piece 01 is cut so as to taper from near its central or widest part toward its ends, and its edges are stitched be tween the edges of the outer and inner layers of material, shaped as shown at c e-that is, made narrow at their lower ends, curved at their outer edges, and made straighter at their inner edges to join with d. These pieces 0 e are made broad at their upper ends, so as to v broaden out each half a b of the form, as at 3 4, which, by pressure upona suitable form, are made to round outward, 'as at 5 6, and curve, as at 8, at the top, (see Fig. 2,) so as to conform to and rest easily upon the person. These parts a b, from the point 10 to the point 11, are in the arc of a circle of greater radius than between the points 11 12, and from 12 to 13 the curve is reversed, throwing the upper portions of the halves of the orm into such position as to present the inner ace of the material composing theform to rest upon the person.

In corsets such as are most commonly used the bust-covering portions are made square at the top. Such a corset, applied to aperson not shaped by nature to fill out the full portions at the top, will fall in under the pressure of the clothing from the outside, preventing the front of the dress from presenting the curvature desired by all particular and well-dressed persons. Such persons, by the application of this form within the upper portion of the corset, may keep out the corset and hold it in such position as to retain below the dress a shape corresponding with a full natural bust; and the broadened portions 3 4, extended each side of the curve of the bust, retain the dress properly distended from near the hollow portions of the breast next each shoulder to the center of the breast, where the halves are joined by a lacing, (shown at g,)it being a suitable cord or ribbon extended through eyelets made at the inner edges of each half within the binding, as shown in Fig. 1. The contracted narrow portion of the halves a b fits easily down into the corset.

These forms may be very advantageously used to beautify the shape of the front of a dress, even though the person wearing the form has a full bust.

These forms are very light, and add little, if any, to the warmth of the body-covering, and are far more healthy and agreeable than the usual masses of cotton, hair, and inflated rubber.

The forms are adj ustably connected together at their edges, so that they may be made to separatemore or less; and each halfis provided with an adjusting-cord, I, (shown inFig.3, and partially in Figs. land 2, where the cord is represented as passing through eyelet-holes h,

at the top and bottom of each half of the form,)

I by which to draw-the upper and lower portions of each half together, to cause the halves a b to protrude more or less, according to the taste or requirements of the person.

The ultimate shape herein specifically described for the halves of the form may be gained by making it into more than three pieces; but three are amply sufficient.

The forms may be covered with lawn, silk, or other fabric, to correspond in material and color with the corset. They may be used with a waist, and act as bust-improvers, Without a corset.

Viewing the halves a b in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the parts 0 d 6 all curve from one to the opposite side of each half.

1 I claim As an article of manufacture, a bosom-form composed of the two connected half portions a b, each contracted at its lower end, curved, substantially as described and shown, in the directions of its length and width, and broadened at its upper end to conform to the breast of the wearer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIA D. BANFIELD.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, WM. J. PRATT. 

